Molokoloko Garden News

...has moved.

Due to an annoying advertisement that is preventing some readers accessing this blog I have had to move it to a new blog post - Molokoloko Garden

This blog is now discontinued on this site.

Other people's ideas...

Kokedama...aaah...inspiration!....

Kokedama - Japanese string gardens.

Until yesterday evening I had never heard of these little delights.  Then they were featured on the TV gardening programme yesterday evening.  Aren't they just charming?  Apparently you can Kokedama just about anything.   Here is a link how...and by the way, you do not have to use peat compost and further deplete the world's dwindling source, just general purpose compost will work mixed with the bonsai compost.  Just think what a fab present one of these would make for your friend on a special occasion.

Hang them inside or outside.

So...now I have something else to add to my long list of 'to do' things.....

Well, since I am talking about other people's ideas ...and since I was chatting to D (of DnA and, thank you for asking, little sproglet is doing very well,back home from hospital and installed in the family home along with his big sister, 2 rabbits and several plants including some proteas...not bad for Sweden...sorry, I diverse...)   anyway D said he didn't have time for Pintrest...I am sure he doesn't!  So I had a very quick look there and found these inspiring shabby chic greenhouses especially for him .....when you have the time D!

This would look lovely in your garden DnA.

So would this grander version.

I rather fancy this little one
but not the stone angel unless it is on a grave...
...That's an idea!

The perfect shed and greenhouse all in one?

The one on the right is made of all recycled bits.



























I expect that the little cupboard one is too.   I might have a go at making something similar ...one day!

Now, here is one last idea from another person, though I have to say, I have done this myself before - that second summer I was in this house.  This one is rather more fancy than mine - and I think the plants aren't all growing - mine were.   It is worth doing again though, to brighten up a dark corner or add a little quirky interest.   You could do it with strawberries, or cherry tomatoes, to make it more practical.

Handbag flowers.

That's enough of other peoples' ideas  - back to the reality of Molokoloko Garden.   What's been happening here this week?

Busy helping fix the pond.
Or maybe hunting mozzie larvae

Not much really.   Though the pond is fixed with help from Leah and Jonah.   Especially helpful are Leah's eagle sharp eyes when looking for tiny holes.
The pond is now up and running again and I think I can remove the safety netting on top because quite frankly it is ugly  - also the children are quite capable of taking it off by themselves and falling in anyway!

Complete with a rocky island 

Leah shows great interest in the garden.  She is curious, observant and retentive to the things she is told.  Jonah less interested in plants but very helpful in building things...especially good at digging along with Seren...yes, her of the butter-wouldn't-melt-in her-mouth face.

Butter wouldn't melt would it?

...and him with the cherubic curls.   My goodness they can excavate an open-pit mine complex in about 5 minutes flat...as long as it takes to make a cup of tea or turn my back on them for the briefest of moments.   Mind you, he is good at finding Seren's poos....each of us has our own strengths.  I am training him up to follow in Chris's footsteps  - a clever builder and inventor of useful garden structures.

It is almost June and the weather is still cool to cold.  The wind is constantly from the north which is dropping the temperatures.  June is the month of roses - usually by this time there are plenty already in bloom but not this year - just too cool though a few are making a show.   The white ones, which I notice do better in the cooler weather, are opening.   I have no idea if the science behind that has been researched, it is just an observation I've made.   In cool years the white roses keep their purity more easily.  They don't get so 'burnt' at the edges,

Margaret Merrill, scented of course.

Rosa Rugosa - the hips are wonderful later

This week one of the lupins has bloomed.  I fight the slugs and snails for the lupins.

Lupins

This is the first year I have had any bloom to speak of ...the nematodes must work a bit.   I need to reapply.   Certainly the nematodes have worked for the hostas which are looking very good.  I will include a photo when the blooms are out.  But the leaves are not eaten into shreds this year - I think it is because I repotted them into new clean pots and applied the nematodes immediately to the compost.

I noticed the dog roses are just beginning to bloom here and there.   As soon as it warms up they will be a mass of blossom.  Maybe the rest of the peas and cucumbers will germinate then too.   So far germination of both has been very poor.

Iris has bloomed this year, but only those in containers.

However we have been warned we are in for further high winds, rain and cold weather before it warms up mid week.

I started with Other Peoples' Ideas and I am going to end this post with a little look at some of the wonderful moss growing wild in the valleys of the Brecans - it is amazing stuff.  If you put your hand on the moss it is warmer than the air around it - it makes its own micro climate like a minute rain forest.  There were so many varieties of moss where we went for a walk and picnic today at Pont Melin-Fach Waterfalls.....so maybe I should end with ideas from nature?  After all, are gardens not inspired and created by nature itself?

Moss, click on the picture to enlarge it

Nature's garden - no way we could improve on it.
Melin-Fach Waterfall

Moss - It is like a little rain forest in miniature.

Have a great week ahead - gardening, visiting gardens - oh Sandra and Roger  - you must visit some French gardens on your travels....sitting in gardens...dreaming gardens - whatever you are doing have a wonderful week.

Happy gardening.

Let's Party...

....Chelsea Flower Show and back at home too...

Sentebale

RHS Chelsea Flower Show always falls in May.  It is huge, said to be the biggest most prestigious flower show in the world.   Probably is.   I did go one year, and decided that it was too much to see in one day and that viewing it on the telly gave me a much better view and much less cost - entry doesn't come cheap.  However, it does offer loads of inspiration and information.   For gardeners it is worth watching it on whatever technology you prefer.

My favourite garden was Prince Harry's Charity garden Sentebale (Forget-me-not) for the HIV kids in Lesotho - charming.   Utterly uplifting and charming, designed by Matt Keightley.

At the opposite side of the design scale was this one designed largely on computer...

Orange is the 'in' colour.
Fernando Gonzalez’s Chinese-inspired white walls.

Look at the lovely white wave curls of that wall - and the loose sunny planting.  Also lovely.

Anyway...all that inspiration I had to treat myself...after all...

Verbascum chaixii var. album

Verbascums are back and I know they do very well here in this garden...remember Tobias who seeded himself in this garden that first dismal (from garden point of view) year I was here?

The Guardian says:  Foxgloves are a Chelsea standard, but this year they were usurped by another dreaming spire: the verbascum (aka mullein), with its rosette of felted leaves and blooms that open one after the other up the stem, like a rocket’s vapour trail. 

On the strength of that I ordered a packet of seed and some Cow Parsley too, for it's lacy effect. Though I have to admit I haven't had any success with it in the past...maybe this time.

Sean Murray's Front garden incorporating a car parking area.

Chelsea aims to influence more than just garden fashion.   This year there were two  aspects it was promoting.   The first one is to get the public to 'green up' the largely concreted/tarred or gravel front gardens that are now used as parking spaces.  To this end they gave the winner of a recent competition, Sean Murray, the task of designing a front garden.   The result, bearing in mind he is an amateur, is wonderful.   I really MUST get on with my front garden which has been sadly relegated to second place in garden priority.   Sean's has given me inspiration ...his old tin can sculptures have given me an idea.

One of Sean's tin can sculptures.

The other promotion has been to highlight the connection and research between health and gardening.   Wouldn't it be amazing if a trip to the GP for a general feeling of malaise resulted in a prescription for a week of communal gardening?   Seriously...the research is gaining a lot more recognition and backing.  Have a look at these links - you will see what I mean.  Click Here ...and Click Here.

Leaving Chelsea behind then, let's move on...

My own little garden doesn't compete with the amazing Chelsea gardens, but then again, neither has it enjoyed the money and expertise that they have lavished on them.

This May has been cooler and wetter and a great deal windier than most Mays.   However, with weather you get what you get, and you have to get on with it.   The garden has done just that.

Too many red poppies, but they are fun.

There are too many red poppies.   I love a big poppy but I am not overly fond of red.   It can be overpowering and aggressive, or blousy.   I will probably remove a couple of them and replace with something less ...well, less RED.  Next year.

Peonies are good too.   I can handle the pink, much easier on the eye.

Pink peonies foreground, red poppies
and the yellow is the Geum.

 Potatoes...oh my goodness, they are romping away!

Potatoes

I am just slow - I don't know where the day goes...yes, I do.   Quite a chunk of it is in walking Seren for miles so she doesn't dig in the garden!

See her peeping out of the window?
Waiting for a walk...as usual.

Strawberries are coming along nicely, the hanging baskets need sorting out, the melon is getting huge, the tomatoes are blooming...the Virginia creeper is dying...I have NO IDEA why.   Must have a closer look. Maybe Seren has nibbled it.  She also chases the bees and in so doing jumps on plants and breaks them...she will, I hope, grow out of these puppy habits.   The roses are in bud - give us a day or two of sunshine and they will bloom - so will the aliums and lavender....

Lavender flanking the path - almost in bloom

Yes, it is all happening ...and I?   Well, I had better get out there and do a bit of work so that when the sun does shine....we are ready for it!

Softer poppy - I prefer these to the reds.

DnA it is One Month and One Day till I see your garden!  Can't wait...and so much to do here before I can comfortably leave this one....

Happy gardening everyone...

Oh BOTHER!

...what a STUPID thing to do!...

...and it's more March than May when it comes to weather...

Windy and cool for May.
Silver Birch in the garden.

Gardening is not always full of success but when failure is due to my own stupidity then 'oh BOTHER' doesn't really express what I feel.   Nor was it my initial verbal utterances but for the sake of propriety I'll not print what that was...

So what did I stupidly do?   Trim the grass too close to the pond and of course I put a hole in the pond liner.   The result was a very nearly drained pond.  Damn, damn, damn.   No repair tape available locally so I've ordered some off the internet...good old internet.  However, not all is lost because this will give me an opportunity to properly plan how to incorporate the little pond plants that are growing so well and would need a more permanent arrangement than they currently enjoy.   There is always a silver lining if you look for it...even in a pond lining!

The next thing is to find my watch which I have taken off and put down somewhere - but that is not a gardening problem.

It is cool for May but the flowers are opening, bees are busy and Seren is busy jumping on the plants to chase the bees...'oh BOTHER!'  Haven't found the up-side to this yet, or the solution.   The plants are reasonably robust I expect some will survive...those where she can't jump at least.

There are lots of good things going on - it is not all 'oh BOTHER!'.

Blossom on the Rowan tree.
First year it has bloomed.

Rowan trees are considered a powerful force for good in Wales - so mystical legend would have us believe.

In Wales (UK) the Rowan tree has traditionally been considered to be a sacred tree. It was planted in churchyards to protect and act as a warning to negative forces and evil spirits. Reputedly not one churchyard would be without it. Wearing a cross made from the tree was a tradition followed once a year by the parish. Coffins were rested under a Rowan tree on the way to the funeral rather than leave it open and vulnerable to approaches by such forces.

Maybe the Rowan will protect me against any more silly accidents this year?


Meantime other plants just coming into bloom now are these...

Poppy

Peonies

Geranium (Cranesbill)

Look very carefully - click to enlarge
and you will see a lupin head just in the green

These are Camassia on JP's grave

The potatoes are dong well.   The tomatoes seem very happy and the spinach beet and radiccio have germinated.  The melon is romping away and the Chilli Peppers are doing really well.   I planted the seeds in February.  So not all is bad news and 'oh bother' indeed.

In the week ahead I shall be concentration on the hanging baskets, watching as much as I can of the Chelsea Flower Show on TV...drooling over some of the plants and gleaning inspiration.  I'll repair the pond  and gloat over the daily progress...

I forgot to tell you!  The passiflora I thought Seren had killed off with her chewing is sprouting again!  The giant hosta has a flower spear forming and the hart's tongue fern is sprouting new growth...

So it really isn't all 'oh BOTHER' at all...

I hope all is well with your particular little patches too?

Cayenne Chilli
For a birthday present for someone
I know who likes things HOT!

Right, 'nuff now - time to go garden...chat to you next week!

Some more hours...

...in the days in May - please...

Even though the May days are light longer there is still not enough hours in them to get everything done in the garden.  

Tellima grandiflora, one of my favourites at
this time of year. (click on photo to enlarge)

We have had high winds on Tuesday and Wednesday last week.   Miserable for trying to do anything much in the garden.   The trees which are in full leaf bent alarmingly.   However, no damage that I can see.   Maybe the apple tree lost some of the blossom but there is still plenty there.

I eventually completed the vegetable patch and got it planted up.

Taken from the bottom of the garden.

Taken from the 'house end' of the garden.

In the left photo you can see the bamboo  supports for the Mange Tout peas  - seeds planted and hope they grow.

In the photo below you can see the strawberry beds - about 27 plants.   Nine I bought new and the rest were salvaged from suckers and runners that rooted all over the garden last autumn.  Hopefully we will have strawberries and cream later this year.

I have also planted some Radiccio and and some Spinach Beet for salads.  While I was weeding I noticed loads of Yellow Rattle had eventually colonised this area.   Damn...I wish it had been further forward in the grass - it is a semi-parasitic plant and lives off domestic grass thus helping the meadow to maintain meadow species and not lawn grass species.  I have left it to get stronger.   You may have noticed that the meadow thus far this year is cut short?  This is to accommodate a bouncy young dog, Seren.   Maybe next year I will allow it to grow unhindered by mower again.   It would be a waste of time this year as young Seren needs space to bounce and play.   As it is she gets in a lot of mischief running off with garden implements, seedlings in pots, anything that can move and some that can't.

Meadow cut short this year.

The meadow is for bees but I hope that now the garden is more established there will be plenty of other plants to feed them.  If the lavender goes on the way it has started this year that will be lovely later.   It runs down each side of the path interspersed with two types of sage and a Rosemary which is covered in blue flowers and bees at the moment.   The Sage is in bud.   It is spectacular when it flowers and the bees love it.

Garden path.
Edged with lavenders, sage, rosemary,
bluebells, cerinthe, euphorbia and poppies.

Only this afternoon did I mention to my neighbour that I would be looking for someone to water the garden later on in the summer when I am away ...and he offered!  Problem solved!   I wasn't hinting.   I simply asked him if he knew of a teenager or someone who would be willing to do it for a little bonus of a few £ and whatever produce was ripe at the time.

The tulips are over so everything is very green at the moment.  Not so many bright splashes of colour but it won't be long before the big poppies and peonies are out.

Peony bud, just waiting for a couple of sunny days to open.

The Dogwood is in bloom, it is white and has a lovely evening scent.  In fact the most notable thing about the garden at the moment is the evening perfume in it.  Another  attractive white plant is the whitebells - I think they are a white version of bluebells - they are just lovely this year.

This started as a lone little plant by the kitchen door
four years ago.   I moved it to a more sympathetic
part of the garden...now look at it!

Aquilegia

Acer

The Aquilegia are just beginning to look very pretty....there are loads of little things growing if you look, even though the general impression of the garden is primarily all different greens.  Look carefully and you will see the blue of bluebells and cerinthes, also the periwinkles.

I have repotted the hostas and put them by the front door.  The little Acer doesn't like it there so it is just squatting under the bamboo for them time being.    S and R gave me this plant last year.   So dainty and pretty with seasonal changes of colour too.

Potatoes and tomatoes are growing like crazy.   All my varieties of potato are 'up' now.   The tomatoes I have moved to the tomato house.   Seren knocked the cheese board down from the counter in the kitchen and broke it so it has been recycled as a sign .

Recycled cheese board  and note the
bamboo support structure.

The Tomato House is my old tiny greenhouse.  The situation of it against that concrete wall seems to suit the warmth loving tomato plants...so long as blight doesn't get them.  Last year they were very successful.   I had 2 Gardener's Delights.   This year I  have Gardeners Delight, Aperitif, Black Opal (looking a bit sick where a slug got it...but recovering) Green Tiger - I think that is all.   The bamboo supports this year came from my own bamboo patch!  At about £1.00 per 9 foot canes in the garden centre that is a real saving.  And that is what gardening is about.   Recycling, producing, propagating, sharing...especially sharing I think.

The greenhouse is full to overflowing with hanging basket plants - most I've overwintered in the greenhouse - one giant fuchsia is in bloom already and the begonias are all sprouting...oh - far too early!  I'll have to deal with them this week - I need more compost.  I'll be giving fuchsias away this year.

Grape vine, it is actually bearing little tiny grapes
(not visible in the pic - take my word for it)

Yes, May is busy, busy, busy in the garden.  

Also May is the month when the Chelsea Garden Show is on...I went once.   It was busy  and lovely but I did prefer Hampton Court Garden Show.   Chelsea is best viewed on the telly or internet!  Much cheaper that way too.

So busy as it is I am going to love you and leave you here for another week.   Meantime happy gardening and let's hope the slugs leave some for us to enjoy.

The lilac in the garden,
bloomed for first time this year.

The wind is tossing the lilacs,

The new leaves laugh in the sun,

And the petals fall on the orchard wall,

But for me the spring is done.

(Anon)

Where are my sons...

...when I need their brawn and expertise?

Alec

Doug

The two in question.















The answer to that question is that they are too far away to be of any use when I need them.   So much for expending all that energy bringing up sons.

This afternoon I wanted to make the frames for two raised vegetable beds.  They aren't very high but I needed frames to contain the soil, compost and manure.  So since son-in-laws are also unavailable for help and likewise very-useful-grandson too far away, the task of making these frames was going to be my entire responsibility.  Sigh!   I really could do with a tame-man for these sorts of jobs...

Anyway not all was lost.   The local hardware store will cut wood to size which saves a lot of schlep.  I had a couple of planks already but needed 4 more.  And something to make the corner joint.  Oh yes, and some nails or screws.

2 raised beds 

The corners - a real botch job.

These are the result.  Botched together and then need levelling.  Also need filling up with nutritious soil ready for sowing of seeds and seedlings.   That's the job for tomorrow.

What might they hold?   Peas, maybe radicchio, possibly spinach beet.   I also want to plant cucumbers and courgettes but possibly in grow bags rather than in beds.

The potatoes I planted a couple of weeks ago...well, the ones called Swift are up already.   Apparently they are living up to their name.

'Swift' potatoes sprouted.

Other seedlings need replanting or planting out.

Tomato seedlings need to be planted out.

Sweetpeas need to be planted out too.

This year I am growing a couple of pots of French Marigolds in the greenhouse - they are supposed to repel flying pests.   They are pretty and it's worth a try, why not?  Though some say they actually attract pests.   I know the slugs love them.

French Marigolds -with slug pellets.
I can only use these in strictly controlled places like
the greenhouse where I can keep Seren out.

The Backyard Gardener says:
Marigolds are relatively pest free and many people interplant them in their vegetable gardens to deter insect pests. While the data is lacking as to whether marigolds actually deter insect pests, they definitely attract beneficial insects such as lacewings, ladybeetles, and parasitic wasps. A vegetable garden with some planted flowers is also more attractive and this makes it more enjoyable to work in.

Others say they can destroy nematodes in the soil that are doing good.  So - mine are in pots, they won't destroy any nematodes and maybe they will keep put some of the flying pests and if nothing else - they look pretty!

Something that is looking very pretty right now is the Aquilegia or Granny's Bonnet

Aquilegia

This self-seeds itself every year - it grows just about anywhere - I love the little nodding flowers and so do the bees.  The bees are busy now.   Yesterday walking in the wood Leah's sharp eyes spotted a bee hive (nest) in a hollow tree.  She is a sharp kid and notices things many other people miss.

I have been enjoying more and more rhubarb.  It is so easy to grow and a real treat fresh from the garden.

Rhubarb - yum.

Any gardening I do at the moment has to be done around walking time.   Seren needs, like any and every collie, huge amounts of exercise every day.  That means a walk morning and afternoon...which I love, but it does cut down on the gardening time.  However, I can always get hints and tips from nature on our rambles.   For instance, this morning I spotted a patch of wood anemones growing intermingled with dog violets...stunning.   As G remarked, what a perfect combination to put on JP's shady corner grave.

White wood anemone and dog violets (not my photo)

Another task this week is to plant up hanging baskets that are bursting out of their socks in the greenhouse.  That is after I have finished the veg frames and many other tasks too many to list.  In the end we can only do what we can do in a given period of time.  The tomato seedlings need feeding.  Probably the indoor plants do too.   The Hibiscus is flowering again, such beautiful big double red flowers.   They make me feel warm just to look at them.  The pelagoniums I cut back are flowering.   The cut back bits seem to be doing OK  - hopefully they will root and provide many extra pelagonium plants.

Hibiscus

Pelagoniums, two varieties.

It is certainly the season when everything grows.   G took some Marguerites off me and some Periwinkles too.   The Periwinkles are flowering in her garden already - and the Marguerites have buds.   Both plants are tough but that is still pretty incredible after I roughly yanked them up and G roughly dug them into her garden.   Of course the things that grow fastest are the weeds.

The little pond plants are all beginning to show signs of growth especially the Bog Marigolds ...yes, there is more than plenty to do.  All good, happy jobs though.

The weather forecast for the week ahead is most unusual - we have winds of up to 52mph  forecast - that is a winter gale.   I dread to think what will happen to the apple blossom if it really does blow that hard.  Fingers crossed it doesn't.  Yesterday the forecast was for over 60mph for one of the days in the week ahead, so here's hoping there is a decrease of wind speed every day.

More garden news next week - meanwhile happy gardening!